BREAKING NEWS: Avalanche’s 25-years old key man re-signing
The Vegas Golden Knights dominated the 2024 NHL trade deadline, making not just one blockbuster trade but two. After acquiring Noah Hanifin, they went on to trade for Tomas Hertl, ending his 11-season tenure with the San Jose Sharks.
Their bold moves overshadowed many other significant trades, including what could be the season’s biggest deal: the swap between Bowen Byram and Casey Mittelstadt involving the Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres.
Seeing two former top-10 picks traded before turning 26 is rare, especially in a direct exchange with major implications. The Sabres aimed to find a dynamic partner for Rasmus Dahlin, while the Avalanche sought to strengthen their top-six.
Byram immediately assumed top-pairing minutes in Buffalo, while Mittelstadt took on the role of Nathan MacKinnon’s understudy on Colorado’s second line. This trade was seen as a testament to Mittelstadt’s potential. After a career-high 59 points in the 2022-23 season, he finally justified his eighth-overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Avalanche capitalized on this potential, trading their own promising-but-inconsistent youngster, and were quickly rewarded.
Mittelstadt thrived in Jared Bednar’s system, scoring 10 points in 18 regular-season games post-trade and significantly boosting the performance of wingers Artturi Lehkonen and Jonathan Drouin. His strong postseason performance, with nine points in 11 games, was particularly encouraging for the Avalanche, who had struggled with center depth since losing Nazem Kadri to free agency in 2022.
During the 2022-23 season, the Avalanche used a combination of Evan Rodrigues and Alex Newhook in the second-line center role, with Rodrigues scoring 39 points in 69 games. Mittelstadt, however, proved to be a significant upgrade, totaling 57 points in 80 games this season and potentially poised to exceed 60 points next year.
Despite his success, re-signing Mittelstadt remains a priority for Colorado, as he is likely their most expensive free agent this summer, rivaled only by defenseman Sean Walker. With $15.92 million in cap space and nine players facing free agency, the Avalanche should be able to retain their key players.
Securing Mittelstadt is crucial, as Kadri’s breakout 87-point season in 2021-22 set a high bar for the second-line center role. Mittelstadt could finally provide the consistency needed in that position, especially with uncertainties surrounding Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.
Mittelstadt and veteran winger Jonathan Drouin could temporarily fill these gaps, although both need new contracts. The Avalanche’s core, led by superstars MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar, has already shown its capability, leading the league in scoring this season. However, they cannot become complacent, even with a Stanley Cup already won.
Mittelstadt’s presence offers a long-term solution for the Avalanche’s lineup, timely as the team anticipates a Rantanen extension next summer and a new contract for Makar in 2027. This trade, adding another key player to the lineup, could transform Landeskog and Nichushkin’s return from a necessity to a valuable bonus.